Report # 1
December 2005

The Women’s Community Clinic

	In September I began my position as Assistant Clinic Manager at the Women’s Community Clinic in San Francisco, California, and I am happy to report that I couldn’t be more pleased.  The Women’s Community Clinic is a unique medical clinic; a nonprofit run almost entirely on volunteer support.  It is run by women, for women, and takes a client-centered approach to healthcare.  A staff of 8 dedicated women and over 60 lay and clinical volunteers create a dynamic and energetic work environment.  
	Another aspect of the clinic that makes it so special and unique is that all of our services are offered free of charge to uninsured and underinsured people identifying as women.  Although limited to sexual and reproductive healthcare, we offer a wide variety of services including annual exams, birth control, STI testing, HIV testing and counseling, pregnancy testing and counseling, and menopausal support.  In addition, we offer services outside of the clinic.  Our outreach work includes providing hygiene supplies to homeless and marginally-housed women.

My work
	
As Assistant Clinic Manager, I am involved in almost every aspect of the clinic.  In general I assure that the clinic is running smoothly by training and overseeing volunteers who make appointments, do client intake, and health education.  I am also involved in health education, outreach, and HIV testing. 
 
Health Education:An integral part of the philosophy behind the clinic is providing women with healthcare that is comprehensive and supportive of all lifestyles.  In sticking with this model of client-centered care, we offer one-on-one health education sessions to every client before she sees a clinician.  As a health educator, I address clients’ concerns about their health as well as introduce birth control options, provide information about STI risks and testing, and verify that they are not being physically or emotionally harmed in their relationships.  These sessions allow clients a safe, non-judgmental space where they can feel comfortable asking questions and disclosing information that they may feel too intimidated to speak with a clinician about.  We take a harm reduction approach to all counseling sessions at the clinic; meeting clients where they are at by making a realistic plan that may not cut out the risky behavior all together, but lessen the risk of their behavior.  
Outreach: During my time at the clinic, I will be spending every Thursday evening at Ladies’ Night, a collaborative effort to provide a women-only safe space where homeless and marginally –housed women can access supplies and a meal.   Ladies’ Night is put on at a resource center for homeless folks in San Francisco.  Every Thursday evening they limit their services to people identifying as women.  During this evening, women can access clean needles and works kits, hygiene supplies, and clothes, as well as receive professional massages and social services, participate in art activities, play games, and receive a well-balanced meal.  My role at Ladies’ Night is to hand out hygiene supplies such as soap, shampoo, razors, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, condoms, and medical supplies.  In addition it gives me the chance to interact with them, hear their stories and get a better understanding of the lives they are living.  
HIV Testing and Counseling: In November, I became trained as an HIV test counselor.  This consisted of an intense week of training in counseling skills and role-playing sessions.  Beginning the first of January, I will be administering the test for clients at the clinic, as well as doing risk assessments and counseling around how they can reduce their risk of contracting HIV.  

	After only three and a half months working at the clinic, I already feel like I have learned so much.  I am directly involved with the running of a clinic, I have daily contact with clients, and I am learning from intelligent women who have dedicated themselves to careers in women’s healthcare.  The Women’s Community Clinic operates on principles that I believe in and I am so thankful that I can be a part of the care they provide.  It is the most emotionally challenging job I have had, but it is also the most rewarding because our work is so necessary to the wellbeing of countless women.  I look forward to continuing this work.